[Salvation]

Stational Church: Third Sunday of Lent

 

Today's Stational Church is the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls.

Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

The stational Mass brings us to another basilica, St. Lawrence Outside the Walls, erected by the Emperor Constantine in the year 330. As the basilica is near the Verano cemetery and above ancient catacombs, where the bodies of the martyred St. Lawrence, St. Stephen and St. Justin were laid to rest, the penitential character of the Lenten Station takes on particular significance.

On this day, the catechumens of old were taken to the tomb of St. Lawrence, the illustrious deacon whose "eyes were ever towards the Lord." Today, they had to decide whether they were "for Christ or against Him." If for Him, then "all fornication and uncleanness, covetousness, obscenity, foolish talking, gossip must be laid aside," "for no fornicator, or unclean or covetous person has inheritance in the kingdom of Christ Jesus."

We have made our decision years ago. On the day of our baptism, we renounced Satan, his pomps and his works. "Heretofore we were darkness," but by the waters of baptism "were made light in the Lord."

If we are not keeping our baptismal oath, then "the last state of that man becomes worse than the first, for the unclean spirit will return into the house from whence he came, together with seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and dwell there." The result will be a scattering, a breaking up of the supernatural life, a separation from Him who is our blessed hope in this life and our eternal joy in the next.

Let us pray: Pluck my feet out of the snare. Look upon me and have mercy on me for I am alone and poor. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

[Salvation]

San Lorenzo in Panisperna

 

Day XIX. Sunday, Week III.

"I will prove my holiness through you. I will gather you from the ends of the earth; I will pour clean water on you and wash away all of your sins. I will give you a new spirit within you, says the Lord (Entrance antiphon for today - Ez 36:23-26).

San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura. If you remember, the first week of Lent, we visited San Lorenzo in Panisperna, which was built over the traditional place where Saint Lawrence was burnt to death (258). This church was built over his tomb (see photo). Behind the tomb is a marble slab stained with blood on which was under the place where the
Romans roasted their victims alive.

 

Also in the tomb are the earthly remains of Blessed Pius IX (1846-1878), founder of the North American College (where I live). His body is incorrupt (see photo). This church was, miraculously, the only church in Rome destroyed during World War II, when it was hit by allied bombs (August 1943). Pius XII is remembered very fondly for his kindness to all the victims.